Who the Poor are and what Poverty is commonly decided by Federal standards, determining eligibility for various Government welfare programs.Bible believing Christians, use the Bible to define the Poor and Poverty, its causes and cures.By the most common Biblical definition of Poverty, people are correctly called "poor" if they once had property and means, but have lost their livelihood or are no longer are able to work and maintain their property. The truly Poor are those who, due to no fault of their own, can’t pay their bills because of plant closings, fire, accident, death in the family, debilitating illness, enormous medical bills, etc. and, of course, natural disasters like tornadoes. In Sum: the Biblical definition of Poverty is Destitution due to no fault of one's own. The truly Poor are the Destitute.

THE MAIN REASON FOR CHRONIC, DEEP-ROOTED, SEEMINGLY INTERMINABLE POVERTY [DESTITUTION] IS OPPRESSION

Evangelicals commonly think that personal lifestyle and behavior is the main reason for poverty; but, acknowledging that there is truth to that for some people (especially in the Book of Proverbs), the Bible teaches that the main reason for chronic poverty or destitution is Oppression,

Oppression is primarily the work of invading enemy armies or the behavior of rich and powerful people. The latter exploit those who can no longer work their land- (widows, fatherless children) and the sick or disabled or farmers who have had poor crops due to disasters of some kind and must borrow to keep going. Loans lead to indentured servant hood and forfeiture of the family farm. In some cases, land is simply stolen by the powerful. All of this is injustice. It violates the law of God and the rights of the Poor. In the Bible, such oppression (which is often systemic) is the primary cause of chronic Poverty. Not all who are called Poor are oppressed, but the oppressed are truly poor.

The book, Contested Truths, by Daniel Rodgers, Professor of History at Princeton, gives a unique framework on which to build an understanding of American political life from Independence to the present.It is centered on key political words, their changing definitions over time and how they and the abtract ideas and slogans they represent, have been used wit great affect in American politics.That subject is important in itself, but I am also looking for the Hand of God in all of this.Which, if any, of these developments were Christan or Biblical? Here is a brief summary of what Professor Rogers writes, mostly in my own words:

The word "poor" is commonly defined as those who are literally "poor".This is not the case.Many who are poor by American standards are not necessarily "bad off".Many of them are far from languishing in weakness and being forlorn- literally, like a leaf dried up and ready to fall. Here is a recent photo essay with poignant photos of slum-dwellers.Many of these "poor" people are proud, strong, resilient, even happy.Perhaps more so than many rich Americans.Others, of course, do fit the description of v.1.I am just suggesting caution and a far more careful, judicious use of the catch-all label, "The Poor"!But let us not define or rationalize away the plight of the truly Poor.Let us, indeed, "consider" what the Bible says about them.

Consider Paul's own example: "... remember the poor. I [have] made every effort to do [so]And there is Paul's advice to rich people 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them 6 ...to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share [with the poor]And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need,(1 Tim 6:18, Titus 3 3:14)

Then there is always 1John 3:17-18, if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed. and James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works,is dead.

Scripture is clear! Christians are to consider the cause, and find solutions, for Poverty.We are to get involved with people who are poor, not just give money, but become truly, personally involved. BUT-

"Most of us at one time or another have thrown a dollar bill into the cup of a homeless man standing on a street corner. We do it because we want to help even though we know that our dollar won't really solve a problem that has much deeper causes. He'll be on the street again tomorrow because we've just treated a symptom of his condition without really addressing the cause.

As president of World Vision, I see Christians taking a similar approach to helping the poor internationally. Out of obedience to Christ, churches rightly want to respond to the desperate needs of the billions who suffer in poverty around the world and so they often reach out by feeding the hungry, caring for orphans, sending medical teams or shipping in various supplies. And these things do help to relieve suffering, but at the end of the day the poor are still poor. It's not much different than handing that dollar to the homeless man."

mid-12c., "the exercise of authority in vindication of right by assigning reward or punishment," from O.Fr. justise, from L. justitia "righteousness, equity," from justus "upright, just" (see just (adj.)). The O.Fr. word had widespread senses, including "uprightness, equity, vindication of right, court of justice, judge."

judgment involved in the determination of rights and the assignment of rewards and punishments

The principle of moral rightness; equity; Conformity to moral rightness in action or attitude; righteousness; The upholding of what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with standards or law.